H&B come through bruising battle

Mark Piotrowski dived over to give H&B a 5-0 advantage, but Shoots hit back with a penalty and converted try to lead 10-5. Jimmy Adams burst over the line following Paul Sandeman’s quick tap penalty to make it 10-10 at half time.

Kit Claughton stepped over for a try that put H&B back in front and Sandeman kicked a penalty for 18-10. Dillon Newell then marked his first game this season by gliding in under the posts for a converted try after a Ben Campbell break.

Elsewhere, Rye RFC suffered a fourth successive Sussex One defeat with a 24-19 loss at home to Seaford. Gary Edmunds scored a try shortly before half time to leave Rye trailing 7-5 at the break.

The same player scored again early in the second period and Matt Cooke’s conversion put Rye 12-7 ahead. Seaford pulled clear with three more tries, however, and although Dave Smith burst over with Cooke converting, Rye couldn’t wipe out their deficit.

See Friday’s Observers for full reports on both matches.

Standings (played-points) - Kent One: 1 Cranbrook 9-32, 2 Dartfordians 9-29, 3 HASTINGS & BEXHILL 9-28, 4

Sittingbourne 9-27, 5 Old Gravesendians 9-27, 6 King’s College Hospital 9-22, 7 Shooters Hill 9-21, 8 HSBC 9-20, 9 Beccehamian 8-19, 10 Southwark Lancers 9-11, 11 Whitstable 9-5.

Sussex One: 1 Burgess Hill 10-45, 2 Eastbourne 10-41, 3 Chichester III 10-34, 4 Holbrook 10-28, 5 RYE 10-27, 6 Seaford 10-24, 7 Brighton II 10-21, 8 Haywards Heath II 8-16, 9 Newick 10-14, 10 Hove III 9-10, 11 Lewes II 10-10, 12 Midhurst 9-7.